Batsman’s Luck: Dropped Towel Saves Shoaib Bashir from Dismissal
In a bizarre turn of events, Somerset batsman Shoaib Bashir was saved from dismissal by a dropped towel in a County Championship Division One match against Hampshire. The incident occurred on September 26, 2024, at Taunton, with Somerset struggling at 136/8.
Kyle Abbott had just dismissed Tom Kohler-Cadmore, leaving Somerset on the brink of collapse. Bashir, the last man in, was clean bowled by a perfect outswinger, but he refused to leave the crease. Instead, he pointed out to the umpire that he had been distracted by a towel that had fallen from Abbott’s trousers.
The Hampshire players began to celebrate, but the umpire ruled the delivery a dead ball. Replays confirmed that a towel had indeed dropped from Abbott’s trousers as he released the ball. Law 20.4.2.6 of the cricket rulebook allows umpires to call a dead ball if the striker is distracted by any noise or movement while preparing to receive a delivery.
Bashir’s luck, however, was short-lived. Just three balls later, he was dismissed LBW by Abbott, and Somerset were all out for 136 runs. The Vitality County Championship shared a video of the unusual dismissal on their official Twitter handle.
The incident highlights the unpredictable nature of cricket and the role that luck can play in a batsman’s career. Even the smallest of distractions can have a significant impact on the outcome of a match.
